Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Christian I. Nyby II

Writer (WGA):

Sean Cholodenko (written by)

Release Date:

6 January 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Perry is at TV station "KGGY" to be interviewed but thanks to the interference of main anchor-person Brett Huston the interview is pulled...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Perry Mason | Courtroom | Sequel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Raymond Burr	...	Perry Mason
Barbara Hale	...	Della Street
William R. Moses	...	Ken Malansky
John James	...	Brett Huston
Jerry Orbach	...	Vic St. John
Susan Sullivan	...	Twyla Cooper
Philip Michael Thomas	...	Chuck Gilmore
Earl Billings	...	Al Shockley
Gary Giem	...	Sam Garza
Betsy Jones-Moreland	...	Judge Elinor Harrelson
Peter Jurasik	...	Gary Slate
Kerrie Keane	...	Gillian Pope
Mary Page Keller	...	Cassie Woodfield
James McEachin	...	Lt. Ed Brock
Andy Romano	...	Asst. D.A. Jack LaRusso

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Company:

Dean Hargrove Productions

Movie Connections:

Follows "The New Perry Mason" (1973)

Better than average Mason TVM

Mason is due to have an interview on news TV station KGGY with Gillian Pope. However Brett Huston, a selfish host on the show cuts her interview out of the show. Huston not only upsets her but is on edge with many others at the station. It's no surprise that he gets killed but Pope is the suspect and turns to Mason for defence. Meanwhile Ken Malansky investigates a link with a blackmail scheme.

If you've seen one of these things then you've seen them all. The legal realism of these shows are always very doubtful but the drama is still enjoyable. Mason does his usual ripping into the witness stuff which is good but this time he has more objections overruled and DA LaRusso manages to hold his own well. Ken's investigation is better than usual here but it does feel like he's in a separate movie and it doesn't quite fit together as well as it is meant to. He also gets a bit more action than usual but it isn't directed very well.

The cast are the usual - Burr does well and is a bit like a comfortable old suit. Hale has even less to do than usual but is OK. Moses is good value as a cut price action man. The `oh look it's ..' count that is normally one in the Mason series goes nuts this time with Orbach (Law & Order), Romano (Under Siege) and tough guy (Beau Starr).

The production values are a little higher than usual and the sets don't look like they off a daytime soap! The plot is good and has the usual twist at the end that you could never guess in a million years. Overall a very enjoyable addition to the series that is better than the norm.